History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 43

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648

USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 43

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The church has had a steady growth from the time of its reorganization in 1886. Regular services are held every Sabbath by the pastor and a Sun- day school has been maintained from the beginning.

The pastors from 1886 to 1915 are as follows: W. A. Foster, July, 1886, to January, 1888; S. F. Chandler, February, 1888, to September, 1888; Hunter McDonald, September, 1888, to September, 1889; William Kraft, October, 1889, to January, 1892; W. F. Ackman, April, 1892, to April, 1893; William Kraft, March, 1894, to September, 1896; H. C. Patterson, summer of 1897; Gilbert Jones, January, 1899, to September, 1900; Alex McMillin, April, 1901, to October, 1902; W. D. Star, 1905 to 1907; J. W. Jones, March, 1907, to April, 1909; D. L. Milligan, May, 1910, to July, 1910; E. J. Cain, May, 1911, to September, 1912; E. W. Akman, December, 1912, to Decem- ber, 1913; W. T. Crawley, present pastor.

LAUREL.

The Christian church at Laurel was organized by Elder O. F. McHargue, March 31, 1888, with charter members as follows: E. C. Chafee, Mrs. Inez Chafee, Mrs. M. J. O'Hair, Mrs. Lizzie Groves, Mrs. A. R. Bosley, Gertrude James, Melissa Anderson, Curtis Cardner, John W. Plough, Luella Stephens, Charles Stephens, George W. Weir, Adonijah Wiley, Belle, Zella, Gussie and John O'Hair, Florence Manley, Minnie Goehner, Amelia Herman, Anna and Julia Herman, Flora Manley, Nannie and Lizzie McDonald, John F. Morgan, Thomas A. Clark, John W. Clark, Milton H. Clark, Martha J. Clark, Phoebe Clark and J. H. Groves.

The present membership is sixty-five. Among the faithful pastors are the following: O. F. McHague, H. S. Riggs, D. W. Campbell, John Beekey, D. J. Miller, L. A. Moore, W. O. Moore, L. A. Winn, J. A. Jones, E. J. Cain, D. T. Weaver and Omer Hufford.

At first, meetings were held in Gifford's hall (Red Men's hall), then in the old Lutheran church, and still later in a school building. Next the old Presbyterian church was purchased and remodeled and is still in use. It is

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valued at about two thousand dollars. Services are held every other week and a flourishing Sabbath school is carried on each Lord's day. . Many a man and woman has gone forth from this society prepared to battle in life.

In Metamora township, more than eighty-five years ago, a church was established by the New Light society-a forerunner of the Christian church -which was situated at Elm Grove. There primitive services were con- ducted and much excitement prevailed; some of the worshipers had what was termed the "jerks," such as described by Edward Eggleston in his "Cir- cuit Rider." They had great mental excitement. People used to come from far and near out of mere curiosity, even from Brookville. This society ex- isted until about 1850

It is related of this society that about seventy years ago at a big monthly meeting they had a number to baptize, and marched to the Trace branch, where a big flood had recently washed out a basin in the stream's bed on either side of the creek. A foot-log extended to the drift. John Dillard walked out on the log to observe the ceremony of baptism. The log turned over with him and he floundered in the depths of the water which splashed the shore. As he came out of the water a brother extended to him the "right hand of fellowship," believing he was a newly baptized convert. It greatly entertained the assembled crowd and amused the man of God in the water who was performing the ceremony so that he had to turn his face from the throng assembled on the banks.

ANDERSONVILLE.

About 1855 William Pruett, the proprietor of the village of Buena Vista, in Salt Creek township, erected at his own expense a church building in his town. He let all denominations have it and it was sometimes used by the Methodists, and later by the Christian church. Still later this denomination built a place of worship of their own, and the old chapel went to ruin. The Christian people still maintain a good congregation in the place.

The Christian church at Andersonville was organized in 1846 by Henry R. Pritchard, with charter members as follows: James Anderson and wife, George Jones and wife, Ned Farthing and wife, Samuel Watson and Morgan Hunt and wife. The present total membership is sixty. A church building was erected in 1855-a frame structure still standing and in use. The fol- lowing have faithfully served as pastors of this church: Revs. Henry R. Pritchard, Franklin Thomas, J. P. Orr. J. E. Taylor, I. N. Teeter, O. F. McHague, L. D. McGowan, W. D. Willoughby, F. D. Muse, Dr. I. W. Ray-

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burn, W. T. Sellers, Frank Thomas, C. C. Cline, W. B. Sherman, W. O. Moore, A. H. Moore, J. Morris, S. S. Offutt, David Campbell, D. R. Camp- bell, H. W. Edwards and F. Wilson Kaler.

Another congregation is had in Laurel township, known as Sanes Creek church, the data of which is not at hand.

At Buena Vista there are now two Christian churches-one split off from the other on account of church music, so it is reported. This division occurred about two years ago, in 1913, and one branch purchased a resi- dence, which they have converted into a church building, in which they hold regular services at this time.

LUTHERAN CHURCHES.

The Evangelical Protestant Trinity Congregation, in the southwest cor- ner of section 16 of Highland township, was organized March 28, 1848, by Rev. Wier, with members as follows: Peter Reidinger, Henriech Wolber, Johannes Gesell, Herman Frederick Doebbeling, Philip L. Gesell, Jacob Ge- sell, William Klemme, Herman Wolber, Philip Gesell, Frederick Minne- mann, Balthasar Berg, Heinrich Hahn, Jacob W. Jacobson, Philip Kratz, Johann Frederick Precht, Johan Heinrich Ellermann and Johan Wolber.

The present voting membership is seventeen and the communicant mem- bership of those baptized is one hundred and twenty. Since 1882, one hun- dred and ten infants have been baptized. Since 1884 about eighty-five young people have received catechetical instructions and have been confirmed mem- bers of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Thirty persons have been buried from the congregation. This church belongs to the Ohio synod. The same pastor serving here also serves a church in Dearborn county, the total salary being five hundred and twenty-five dollars.

The congregation worshipped in a log church until the autumn of 1893, and then built its present building, a brick structure. The cornerstone was laid in August, 1893. The seating capacity is one hundred and fifty. Its value is two thousand dollars. The parsonage is valued at eighteen hundred dollars. Both German and English languages are taught and spoken in church and Sunday school.

The following have served as pastors: Rev. Wier (1848), followed by Revs. Jones, Meisner, Links, Meisner the second time, C. Althoff, 1881-1903; J. C. Einfalt, 1904-09; Fred Ihrig, 1909-10; A. C. Kleinlein, 1910-12. The present pastor, Rev. G. A. Spring, has been serving since December, 1912.

The parent church of the above society was organized in 1838 as the

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Evangelical Protestant St. Peters church. In that year they bought forty acres and built a small log church. In 1868 a good brick building was erected. The congregation has kept up its existence through all these years.

The old Lutheran church building at Laurel stands totally deserted, probably the most in positive dilapidation and decay of any of the old church buildings in the county today. The few Lutherans in the vicinity have either united with other churches in Laurel or attend the Lutheran church at Brook- ville.

ST. THOMAS EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT LUTHERAN.

Shortly after the Germans began to settle in Brookville they took steps toward the organization of the Lutheran church. In the early forties meet- ings were held in the town hall and Presbyterian church, ministers coming from Hamilton, Cincinnati and Klemme's Corner. The formal organization took place July 6, 1848. In 1848 the Lutherans bought the Presbyterian church, and on September 17 of the same year it was dedicated as a Lutheran church by Rev. Alvis Anker, assisted by Rev. Porter, of Cincinnati. Rev. Anker continued as pastor for one year and was then succeeded by Rev. Dr. Herman Blecken, who was a physician as well as a minister, and served his flock in this double capacity from 1849 to 1851. He was succeeded by Rev. Henry Cordier, who instructed and confirmed the first catechetical class in the church at Brookville. This class was as follows: Thomas Stang, John G. Stang, William Vogle, Fred Starkel, Fred Ulrich, Martin Baxner, Wil- liam Ellerman, Christian Hofer, Christina Hofer, Christina Reidenbach, Marie Nestheimer, Marie Grimme, Anna Ellerman, Louisa Veith, Louisa Schmerle and Maria Muller.

Under the influence and guidance of Rev. Blecken the first school for Lutheran and Catholic children was started. The first classes were held in a small frame house built on the bank of the canal back of Mrs. Wilhelm's con- fectionery store. Later the school held forth in the little brick schoolhouse which stood on the lot in the rear of Master's new hardware store. This building stood there until a railroad was built through Brookville, and after that the pupils attended school in the old seminary building.

While Dr. C. C. Thomas was pastor (1868-70) the old papers and rec- ords of the church were destroyed and he wrote in the new church record as much as he could gather up concerning the material in the old records. It was during his ministry that the first parsonage was acquired. It is still standing on Franklin avenue and is now occupied by Mr. Brooks. In 1868 the first organ was put in the church. In 1872 the church was remodeled

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and at that time its name was changed from Orthodox Lutheran to Evangel- ical Protestant Lutheran. Between 1885 and 1888 the church was again re- paired and remodeled ; a new floor, seats, stained glass windows and doors were added. The financial condition of the church was never very strong; the record shows that Rev. C. A. J. Cramer received only six hundred and sixty-five dollars for his three-year service. Fortunately, Rev. Cramer re- ceived something for his services at Klemme's Corner, since he served that church during the same three years and lived there. In 1902 the present par- sonage was built.

The first members of the Brookville church included the following : George Ulrich, Ernest Dantrich, Conrad Metzger, George Wiedner, George Stang, John Rumple, Daniel Starkel, Louis Feddermann, Fred Scheibe, Got- lieb Kieseler, John Henrici, Jacob Knerr, George Schlapp, Daniel Devening, Peter Spitzfaden, Zachariah and Adam Fogel, the Finks, Ritzis, Hoefles and many others.

The church has had twenty-one pastors during its career of sixty-seven years. Some of these ministers married Brookville girls, among them being Cordier, who married a Miss Hertle; C. C. Wagoner, who married Mary Kieseler ; Gustave Michelmann, who married Lizzie Klemme. The complete list of pastors is as follows: Revs. Alvis Anker, 1848-49; Herman Blecken, 1849-51 ; Henry Cordier, 1851-56; Kuch, 1856-57; Tumnler, 1857-60; Rich- ter, 1860-61; Arnold, 1861-64; Kiesel, 1864; Nestmann, 1864-67; C. C. Thomas, 1868-70; O. G. Heinish, 1870-72; Gustave Bochert, 1872-76; Joseph Schmatzel, 1876-85 ; C. A. J. Cramer, 1885-88; C. G. Wagner, 1889-91 ; Paul Schmidt, 1891-95; Wellhausen, 1895-97; Gustave Michelmann, 1897-1900; Gilbert, 1900-03; N. S. Luz, 1903-05: Joseph L. Schatz. 1905-12; Max Braunersreuther, 1913-14; Jacob Flegler, 1915.

They have rented their parsonage to the Christian minister, Rev. Crawley. The interior of this historic old brick church, surrounded by many score of graves and a number of the old-fashioned tombs, is, indeed, beautiful. The carpeting, organ and all furnishings go toward making a very attractive place for worship.

ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT LUTHERAN CHURCH.

In 1837 the first Lutheran church was established in Huntersville, at which time a log church was erected. The present church building was dedi- cated August 5, 1860, and has been in continuous use down to the present time. In 1912 the church celebrated its diamond anniversary. The first pas-

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tors were Rev. Bauermeister, who remained a year, and was followed by Rev. Brant. Rev. H. Steding has been the pastor for the past twelve years. This is the largest Lutheran church in the county. It has a membership of over two hundred.

At Peppertown, Salt Creek township, in the center of a large German community, a log church was built in 1850, under the pastorate of Rev. Jones. A lot was offered them for thirty-five dollars by John S. Scott, but they were too poor to pay that sum, and later purchased one at twelve dol- lars. On this they erected a log church, borrowing fifty dollars from the German friends at Huntersville in order to finish the building. Among the leaders were John Koerner, A. Pepper, N. Heineman, H. Koch and C. Pouchs. This log house served the congregation until 1875, when a brick building was erected at a cost of four thousand dollars. Rev. William Younts was the first pastor, and served the church many years. Joseph Schmatzel was pastor from 1875 to 1885. The society is still flourishing and is served by pastors from other points at the present time. The church has been completely over- hauled. The interior has been dcorated very artistically. The church is built over an old graveyard.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCHES.

The first church organized in Posey township was the United Brethren, about 1830, by Rev. John Morgan and Rev. Aaron Farmer, known as the "United Brethren in Christ." The society grew in numbers and was a potent factor for good in the community many years. It built a neat frame church building. As early as 1880 no less than nine preachers had gone forth from this congregation as heralds of the cross. Some of these are men of note, holding responsible positions in the great work entrusted to the churches of their choice, including the United Brethren, Methodist Episcopal and Chris- tian churches. This church is still a working force in the community, or rather the successor to the above, as it was reorganized in 1847. It now has a membership of seventy-six and owns property in Andersonville valued at about eight hundred dollars. Among the pastors here may be named Revs. O. W. Whitecotton, Hanson, Wattering, Brock, Shaw, Moody, Seelig, I. T. Osborn, N. G. Gray, Burchard, and the present pastor, Rev. A. B. Grubbs.

The Oak Forest church still has occasional services in the building which they sold a few years ago to James Stewart. He allows them to use the building free of charge.

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OTWELL CHAPEL.

Otwell Chapel is the only United Brethren church ever organized in White Water township. It is nearly two miles southeast of Drewersburg. It is named in honor of the two men, E. Otto and W. Hollowell, who donated the land on which to build the church. The name is a curious compound of the names of the two donors-Ot-well.

At Brookville and vicinity occasional preaching commenced about 1893 by a United Brethren preacher of this conference, and in 1896 the class that had just been formed purchased the old German Methodist church building. Since then there has been occasional, though by no means regular, stated preaching services. The church has never had a large membership. Many resided in the country, and by removals and deaths the class has been de- creased until it now has but about eighteen members. Rev. John Seelig, now of Dublin, was prominent in the work of this class. The first minister was Rev. John Jackson, who was pastor at the date of buying the building. He never lived in Brookville, but on a small farm in the country, near the town. Then came Rev. John Seelig, who was succeeded by Rev. Golden, after which came Rev. McCarty. At the time of the flood of 1913 Rev. Levi was pastor. Since then the work has been in charge of Rev. Bray, who in fact has charge of nearly all the United Brethren churches in the county, including the one at Oak Forest, and the one west of Brookville, near the West Fork Methodist Episcopal church. Of recent years there has not been regular service in any of these churches. Usually once a month services are held in all the. United Brethren churches of the county. Rev. Bray manages to hold services oc- casionally in each of the churches in the county, and thus keeps alive a small class in the neighborhoods in which they are located. There is no resident pastor in the county at this date.

The United Brethren society built a log church on Snail creek near the western line of that township. This church is still standing and is occasionally used for services, although the congregation has recently erected a new church about a mile down Snail creek. The congregation bought a frame schoolhouse in Bath township, tore it down and set it up at its present site in Brookville township. The old church was called Liberty church, while the new building is known as Center chapel. There was a cemetery at the old church, but there has never been one established at the new site. This church is served by the pastor in charge of the United Brethren church in Brookville.

One of the first United Brethren churches to organize in the West was

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that is known as Old Franklin chapel, located three miles southeast of Fair- field. About 1819 Jacob Antrim and John Fetterhoff began to preach in the western part of the Wayne Purchase. Their first regular preaching place in the White Water valley was at the house of Henry Fry on Templeton's creek. Mr. Fry had been a member of this church in the East. Through his influ- ence, Bishop Krumler was induced to attempt the organization of a church here. A class was established at the home of Mr. Fry, camp meetings were frequently held in the grove and in due time a place for worship was pro- vied. This church was dedicated by Rev. Michael Bathenburg on May 31, 1831. The builing was made of brick burned on the ground and generous donations allowed the pioneer church to be built and furnished. The present pastor is Rev. W. T. Sanders, of Muncie, Indiana, who preaches every two weeks.

On Saturday, May 30, 1914, memorial services were held at two o'clock in the afternoon, that being the eighty-third anniversary of the church. A fine program was had and the attendance was very large.

The Christian Endeavor Society of Franklin church was organized Au- gust 4, 1912, by C. E. Hunt, the pastor. Its first officers were: Roy V. Davis, president ; Orris Davis, vice-president ; Anna Anthony, secretary ; John N. Norman, treasurer. The program committee was Minnie Burke. The membership committee, with Irene Linkel as chairman, was Susie Brauchla, Pearl Bockover, Mabel Brauchla, Walter Sawer, Charles Bockover and Elsie Howell. The charter members were as follows: Rev. C. E. Hunt (honorary founder), Anna Anthony, Clara Linkel, Roy V. Davis, Walter Sawer, Mur- ray O. Spenney, George O. Davis, Loretta Norman, Anna Leman, Bessie Mullin, Levi Mullin, John H. Norman, T. B. Thackery, Allison Bockover, Jr., Samuel Lemar, Edith Templeton, T. F. Thackery, Nora Davis, W. E. Thackery, Asa Davis, Irene Linkle, Laura P. Anthony, Coleman, Della M. Anthony, Oliver Linkel, Mary Thackery, Elsie Newell, Minnie Burke, Elsie Brown, Eva Thackery, Altha Thackery, Gertrude Watterson, Rev. E. B. Cun- ningham, Herbert R. Thackery, Francis Linkel, Landy Lemar, Ralph Martin, Herschel Martin, Edgar Shaffer, Everett Watterson, Harry Watterson.

The present officers are: President, Mary Thackery ; vice-president. Olive Linkel; secretary, Della Anthony; assistant secretary, Irene Linkel; treasurer, Orris Davis ; program committee, Eva Thackery.

On May 18, 1913. Anna Anthony and Clara Linkel were elected as dele- gates to go to Anderson, Indiana, to attend the twenty-first annual Christian Endeavor convention on June 10, II and 12. On June 14, 1914, Irene Linkel and Elsie Howell were elected delegates to the Young People's Society of

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Christian Endeavor convention to be held at the First United Brethren church, Marion, Indiana.

The report of the Sunday school connected with Franklin United Breth- ren church for the twenty-seven Sundays in 1915 was as follows: Members enrolled, 71 ; average attendance per Sunday, 38; total amount in treasury, $14.50; total amount of missionary money, $4.20; average collection per Sunday, 54 cents ; number on Cradle Roll, 22 ; money taken, 17 cents ; number in home department, 17; money collected, 80 cents. The collection the first Sunday of each month is given to missions.

One special feature of Old Franklin church is the care taken of the cemetery near the church. It is an old burying ground and has been kept in the best condition, and is said by many to be the best country cemetery grounds in all Indiana. Here the little mounds are kept sacred. The return of each Memorial-day occasion finds the grounds and the graves in order, and the Decoration-day services have come to be of great interest, all of which bespeaks well for the Christian spirit of the community in which this quiet city of the dead is located. The beginning of the decoration. of sol- diers' graves at this point was in May, 1888, when Henry H. Miller walked across the field from the farm known as the Samuel Howell place and placed flags on the graves. In 1889 the old soldiers of the neighborhood met and appointed a committee and arranged to meet on Saturday following the na- tional day and decorate the graves. The old war veterans gave interesting and pathetic talks. But the congregation kept increasing until it was neces- sary to procure better talent for speakers. In 1895 the services were con- ducted in conjunction with the annual meeting of the church. The same speaker addressed the people both Saturday and Sunday. The speaker was Doctor Bell. Since then the annual speakers have been as follow: 1896, J. T. Roberts : 1897, Rev. Weekly ; 1898, J. E. Shannon; 1899, Dr. W. R. Funk : 1900, Rev. Mathews; 1901, Rev. D. O. Darling; 1902, Rev. Brook; 1903, Rev. J. E. Shannon; 1904, Rev. Brook; 1905, Rev. C. Parker; 1906, Rev. Gable: 1907, Rev. Brook: 1908, Rev. Alonzo Myer; 1909, Bishop Car- ter : 1910, J. F. Reynolds; 1911, Rev. J. E. Shannon; 1912, Rev. C. L. B. Brain : 1913, Rev. Ida Cunningham ; 1914, Rev. W. O. Fries.

At present there are buried in this cemetery nine Civil war soldiers and one soldier of the War of 1812. Two "unknown" graves are also dec- orated.

Another church of this denomination was organized in the extreme western part of Brookville township, where a small chapel was erected and a class held for many years, but was finally dissolved.

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THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

The first Universalist church in Franklin county was organized at Fair- field August 20, 1848, although as early as 1841 a few members of this de- nomination had engaged the services of Rev. Henry Gifford to preach for them "one sermon in each month on the Sabbath at a salary of thirty-six dol- lars per annum." Before the church was formally organized two other min- isters served the small congregation at Fairfield. Rev. W. Y. Emmett fol- lowed Rev. Gifford at the same salary and labored for two years and three months. He was succeeded by Rev. C. Crane, who served the congregation for nine months, for which he received a salary of eighteen dollars. Rev. W. C. Brooks was called in 1847 and was the pastor when the church was finally organized on August 20, 1848.

Rev. Brooks preached one sermon a month for two years and a half and was paid fifty dollars a year for his services. His third year he preached twice a month and was paid seventy-five dollars for the year. In January, 1849, the society bought a lot of William Moore, of Fairfield, for which they paid one hundred dollars, and in the spring of the same year the building of a church was begun. It was finished and dedicated in June, 1850, the dedi- catory sermon was preached by Rev. Henry Gifford. This church cost two thousand dollars and all of the money was raised by voluntary contributions. The church was burned down several years ago. The charter members were Hezekiah Ogden, Lydia Ogden, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thomas, James Bar- rickman, Thomas Hayward, George Fish, Daniel St. John, Harrison Buckles, James Wright, Daniel Landon, Henry Husted and Caroline Buckles.

The list of ministers as given in the records of the church is as follows : W. C. Brooks, 1847-51; C. F. Wait, 1852-53; W. B. Linck, 1853-55; W. W. Curry, 1855-56; B. B. Bennett, 1856-57; W. C. Brooks, 1859-60; A. Gage, 1860-61; J. D. H. Corwine, 1861-63; Marion Crosley, 1863-66; Jacob W. Crosley, 1866-67; E. Case, 1867-70; Frank Evans, 1870-73; R. N. John, 1873-75; Mary T. Clark, 1880-81 ; H. A. Merrill, 1881-83; I. B. Grandy, 1891-93; McCord, 1894-95; Sarah L. Stoner, 1897-98; Edna McDonald preached a few times during 1897; Marion Crosley, 1898-99; according to the minute record of the church, the last sermon was preached by I. B. Grandy in August, 1899.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 43

Author: Reifel, August J Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1648

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648